Chopsticks

ABSTRACT

A chopsticks has two sticks and two resilient elements. The sticks are arranged next to each other. Each of the two sticks has a serving end portion, an eating end portion, and a picking portion formed on the serving end portion. Each of the two resilient elements has two ends connected to the two sticks respectively. A user can pick up dishes from common plates to their personal plates with the picking portion and would not carelessly put the picking portions into his/her mouth. The chopsticks can be used as a serving chopsticks and a private chopsticks at the same time for the convenience of dining and waiting time for queuing to use serving chopsticks can be saved. Moreover, with the resilient elements fixing the two sticks on a first imaginary plane, the chopsticks does not roll on and fall off the table.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 from Taiwan Patent Application No. 109200559 filed on Jan. 15, 2020, which is hereby specifically incorporated herein by this reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an eating utensil, especially to a chopsticks.

2. Description of the Prior Art(s)

Chopsticks are traditional eating utensils in many Asian countries, especially in China, and have been invented for over four thousand years. Currently, there are about two billion people in the world using chopsticks as main eating utensils. Accordingly, it is conservatively estimated that there are about 5 billion pairs of chopsticks circulating in the market normally.

Generally, the way to use the chopsticks is to pick up food with tapered ends of the chopsticks, put the food into the mouth of a user, hold the chopsticks and the food with the mouth, and then draw the chopsticks out of the mouth and leave the food in the mouth for the user to chew and swallow. Thus, the chopsticks definitely contact with the user's saliva. Furthermore, it can often be seen that someone would lick or bite the chopsticks. Therefore, considering to dining etiquette and food hygiene, some serving chopsticks would be prepared for everyone to pick up dishes from common plates to their personal plates, and then people may eat the dishes on their personal plates with their private chopsticks. In addition, the food hygiene has also be taken into consideration when eating hot pot and shabu-shabu. Usually, people may prepare two pairs of chopsticks—one for picking up raw food and one for picking up cooked food. Among the above-mentioned situations, people have to constantly replace the chopsticks according different purpose, which is very inconvenient. Moreover, since people have to wait in line for using the serving chopsticks or the chopsticks for picking up the raw food, it would take too long to pick up the dishes and the dishes would lose their original taste.

Furthermore, a pair of conventional chopsticks includes two independent sticks. When the conventional chopsticks is temporarily placed on a table that tilts or is unstable, each of the sticks may roll on and fall off the table, which is troublesome during meal times.

In addition, in order to increase friction between the chopsticks and food, ends of the sticks of the conventional chopsticks may be embossed with anti-slip patterns. However, since each of the sticks of the conventional chopsticks does not touch the food with a same side, the anti-slip pattern is formed completely around the ends of the sticks. Consequently, when drawing the conventional chopsticks out of the mouth, the anti-slip patterns rub against lip or teeth of the user and the user feels uncomfortable.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a chopsticks to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a chopsticks that has two sticks and two resilient elements. The two sticks are arranged next to each other and are both disposed on a first imaginary plane. Each of the two sticks has a serving end portion, an eating end portion, and a picking portion. The serving end portion and the eating end portion are defined oppositely on the stick. The picking portion is formed on and protrudes from the serving end portion. Each of the two resilient elements has two ends connected to the two sticks respectively.

With the serving end portion and the eating end portion formed oppositely on each of the sticks, a user can pick up dishes from common plates to their personal plates with the picking portion formed on the serving end portion. Moreover, since the picking portions allow the user to distinguish the serving end portions and the eating end portions, the user would not carelessly put the picking portions into his/her mouth. Thus, the chopsticks of the present invention can be used as a serving chopsticks and a private chopsticks at the same time for the convenience of dining and waiting time for queuing to use serving chopsticks can be saved. Moreover, with the resilient elements that are connected to the two sticks fixing the two sticks on the first imaginary plane, the two sticks do not move back and forth relative to each other or be misaligned left and right during use. The chopsticks of the present invention does not roll on and fall off the table.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a chopsticks in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the chopsticks in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the chopsticks in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of a chopsticks in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a third embodiment of a chopsticks in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a fourth embodiment of a chopsticks in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a front view of a fifth embodiment of a chopsticks in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a chopsticks in accordance with the present invention is shown. The chopsticks comprises two sticks 10 and two resilient element 20.

The two sticks 10 are arranged next to each other and are both disposed on a first imaginary plane. Each of the two sticks 10 has a serving end portion 11, an eating end portion 12, and a picking portion 13. The serving end portion 11 and the eating end portion 12 are defined oppositely on the stick 10. The picking portion 13 is formed on and protrudes from the serving end portion 11. In the first preferred embodiment, the picking portion 13 of each of the sticks 10 is formed as a plate and spreads to define a second imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the first imaginary on which the two sticks 10 are disposed. In other words, the picking portion 13 is formed as a paddle.

With the paddle-like picking portions 13, it can be easier for a user to pick up food that is place far away, or food that is round and slippery such as birds' eggs, meat balls, sea cucumbers, cellophane noodles and the like. Moreover, since the paddle-like picking portions 13 is difficult to be put into the mouth of the user due to their special shape, it is easy to distinguish the picking portions 13 and the eating end portions 12 and the user would not carelessly put the picking portions 13 into his/her mouth. However, the shape of the picking portion 13 is not limited to the paddle and may be any shape that is suitable for picking up the food with ease.

In the first preferred embodiment, each of the two sticks 10 includes a main stick portion 14 and two end stick portions 15. The two end stick portions 15 are detachably mounted to two opposite ends of the main stick portion 14 respectively. The serving end portion 11 and the eating end portion 12 of each of the sticks 10 are formed on the two end stick portions 15 respectively.

Moreover, in the first preferred embodiment, the eating end portion 12 of each of the sticks 10 has a holding surface and the picking portion 13 of each of the sticks 10 also has a holding surface. The holding surfaces of the eating end portions 12 of the two sticks 10 face towards each other. The holding surfaces of the picking portions 13 of the two sticks 10 face towards each other. The holding surfaces of the eating end portions 12 and the picking portions 13 of the sticks are embossed with anti-slip patterns 16. Thus, friction between the chopsticks and the food can be increased for the convenience of picking the food. Furthermore, since the anti-slip patterns 16 are formed on inner sides of the two sticks 10, the anti-slip patterns 16 do not rub against lip or teeth of the user, which allows the user to feel more comfortable in use.

In addition, each of the sticks 10 is provided with multiple holding recesses 17. With the holding recesses 17, the user can stably hold the sticks 10 and the sticks 10 do not slip off the user's hand easily. Accordingly, the chopsticks of the present invention is especially suitable for westerners or people who are not good at using traditional chopsticks.

With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the two resilient elements 20 has two ends connected to the two sticks 10 respectively. Specifically, the two ends of each of the resilient elements 20 are connected to the main stick portions 14 of the sticks 10 respectively. The two resilient elements 20 are disposed on the first imaginary plane like the two sticks 10. Each of the two resilient elements 20 has two elastic bodies 21. Each of the two elastic bodies 21 is elongated in shape and may be, but is not limited to, rectangular of circular in cross-section. Each of the two elastic bodies 21 has a first end 211 and a second end 212. The first end 211 and the second end 212 are defined oppositely on the elastic body 21. The two first ends 211 of the two elastic bodies 21 of each of the resilient elements 20 are connected with each other. The two second ends 212 of the two elastic bodies 21 of each of the resilient elements 20 are connected to the two sticks 10 respectively. An angle between the two elastic bodies 21 of each of the resilient elements 20 is less than 180 degrees.

In other words, the two elastic bodies 21 of each of the resilient elements 20 are connected with each other in a V shape. The two first ends 211 of the two elastic bodies 21 are disposed at a tip of the V-shaped resilient element 20, and an opening is formed between the two second ends 212 of the two elastic bodies 21. Moreover, the openings of the two resilient elements 20 may turn away from each other or may face each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the first preferred embodiment, each of the elastic bodies 21 is arced, and the two elastic bodies 21 of each of the resilient elements 20 are convex toward each other.

With further reference to FIG. 4, in a second preferred embodiment, each of the elastic bodies 21A extends straight.

With further reference to FIG. 5, in a third preferred embodiment, each of the elastic bodies 21B is arced and the two elastic bodies 21 of each of the resilient elements 20 are convex toward the two sticks 10B respectively.

With further reference to FIG. 6, in a fourth preferred embodiment, the two resilient elements 20C are disposed on the first imaginary plane like the two sticks. The two first ends of one of the resilient elements 20C are connected with the two first ends of the other resilient element 20C. In other words, the two resilient elements 20C are connected to each other at the tip, such that the two resilient elements 20C are connected with each other in an X shape.

However, specific structures of the resilient element 20D are not limited to the above-mentioned structures. With further reference to FIG. 7, in a fourth preferred embodiment, each of the resilient elements 20D may be a coil spring rather than a leaf spring. Specifically, each of the resilient elements 20D is a torsion spring. The two ends of each of the coil-spring-shaped resilient elements 20D may be formed as two collars respectively, such that the resilient element 20D may be mounted to the two sticks 10 via the two collar-shaped ends. Otherwise, the two ends of each of the coil-spring-shaped resilient elements 20D may be inserted in slots or holes that are formed in the two sticks 10.

With the serving end portion 11 and the eating end portion 12 formed oppositely on each of the sticks 10, the user can pick up dishes from common plates to their personal plates with the picking portion 13 formed on the serving end portion 11. Moreover, since the picking portions 13 allow the user to distinguish the serving end portions 11 and the eating end portions 12, the user would not carelessly put the picking portions 13 into his/her mouth. Thus, the chopsticks of the present invention can be used as a serving chopsticks and a private chopsticks at the same time for the convenience of dining and waiting time for queuing to use serving chopsticks can be saved. Moreover, with the resilient elements 20 that are connected to the two sticks 10 fixing the two sticks 10 on the first imaginary plane, the two sticks 10 do not move back and forth relative to each other or be misaligned left and right during use. The chopsticks of the present invention does not roll on and fall off the table.

In addition, since the two sticks 10 are fixed by the two resilient elements 20, the two sticks 10 do not spin. Accordingly, the anti-slip patterns 16 can be disposed on the inner sides of the sticks 10 while other sides of each the sticks 10 are smooth. The anti-slip patterns 16 do not rub against the lip or the teeth of the user, which allows the user to feel comfortable in using the chopsticks of the present invention.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A chopsticks comprising: two sticks arranged next to each other and both disposed on a first imaginary plane, and each of the two sticks having: a serving end portion; an eating end portion, and the serving end portion and the eating end portion defined oppositely on the stick; and a picking portion formed on and protruding from the serving end portion; and two resilient element, and each of the two resilient elements having two ends connected to the two sticks respectively.
 2. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two resilient elements are disposed on the first imaginary plane like the two sticks; each of the two resilient elements has two elastic bodies, each of the two elastic bodies is elongated in shape and has a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end are defined oppositely on the elastic body, the two first ends of the two elastic bodies of each of the resilient elements are connected with each other, and the two second ends of the two elastic bodies of each of the resilient elements are connected to the two sticks respectively; and an angle between the two elastic bodies of each of the resilient elements is less than 180 degrees.
 3. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the elastic bodies is arced, and the two elastic bodies of each of the resilient elements are convex toward each other.
 4. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the elastic bodies extends straight.
 5. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the elastic bodies is arced and the two elastic bodies of each of the resilient elements are convex toward the two sticks respectively.
 6. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two first ends of one of the resilient elements are connected with the two first ends of the other resilient element.
 7. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the resilient elements is a coil spring.
 8. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 1, wherein the eating end portion of each of the sticks has a holding surface, and the holding surfaces of the eating end portions of the two sticks face towards each other; the picking portion of each of the sticks also has a holding surface, and the holding surfaces of the picking portions of the two sticks face towards each other; and the holding surfaces of the eating end portions and the picking portions of the sticks are embossed with anti-slip patterns.
 9. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 2, wherein the eating end portion of each of the sticks has a holding surface, and the holding surfaces of the eating end portions of the two sticks face towards each other; the picking portion of each of the sticks also has a holding surface, and the holding surfaces of the picking portions of the two sticks face towards each other; and the holding surfaces of the eating end portions and the picking portions of the sticks are embossed with anti-slip patterns.
 10. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 6, wherein the eating end portion of each of the sticks has a holding surface, and the holding surfaces of the eating end portions of the two sticks face towards each other; the picking portion of each of the sticks also has a holding surface, and the holding surfaces of the picking portions of the two sticks face towards each other; and the holding surfaces of the eating end portions and the picking portions of the sticks are embossed with anti-slip patterns.
 11. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 7, wherein the eating end portion of each of the sticks has a holding surface, and the holding surfaces of the eating end portions of the two sticks face towards each other; the picking portion of each of the sticks also has a holding surface, and the holding surfaces of the picking portions of the two sticks face towards each other; and the holding surfaces of the eating end portions and the picking portions of the sticks are embossed with anti-slip patterns.
 12. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 1, wherein the picking portion of each of the sticks is formed as a plate and spreads to define a second imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the first imaginary on which the two sticks are disposed.
 13. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 2, wherein the picking portion of each of the sticks is formed as a plate and spreads to define a second imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the first imaginary on which the two sticks are disposed.
 14. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 6, wherein the picking portion of each of the sticks is formed as a plate and spreads to define a second imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the first imaginary on which the two sticks are disposed.
 15. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 7, wherein the picking portion of each of the sticks is formed as a plate and spreads to define a second imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the first imaginary on which the two sticks are disposed.
 16. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two sticks includes a main stick portion connected to the two resilient elements; and two end stick portions detachably mounted to two opposite ends of the main stick portion respectively; and the serving end portion and the eating end portion of each of the sticks are formed on the two end stick portions respectively.
 17. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the two sticks includes a main stick portion connected to the two resilient elements; and two end stick portions detachably mounted to two opposite ends of the main stick portion respectively; and the serving end portion and the eating end portion of each of the sticks are formed on the two end stick portions respectively.
 18. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the two sticks includes a main stick portion connected to the two resilient elements; and two end stick portions detachably mounted to two opposite ends of the main stick portion respectively; and the serving end portion and the eating end portion of each of the sticks are formed on the two end stick portions respectively.
 19. The chopsticks as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the two sticks includes a main stick portion connected to the two resilient elements; and two end stick portions detachably mounted to two opposite ends of the main stick portion respectively; and the serving end portion and the eating end portion of each of the sticks are formed on the two end stick portions respectively. 